OLIVIA CHOW: From Toronto to Ottawa and Back

OLIVIA CHOW: From Toronto to Ottawa and Back

Olivia Chow at the Philippine Reporter’s Gala, May, 2014 (PHOTO: ARIEL RAMOS)

By Veronica C. Silva

Olivia Chow has been in politics since the 1980s, and she is no stranger to City Hall, which she hopes to call her home again come October 27.

Like most politicians in Canada, Chow’s political career started in the school board before she ran for Councillor to represent a ward in Trinity-Spadina where she still maintains her home. From Toronto City Hall, she moved to Parliament Hill in Ottawa as Member of Parliament for the riding of Trinity-Spadina under the New Democratic Party. She quit her MP post early this year to run for mayor.

An immigrant from Hong Kong, Chow has often recalled how at the age of 13, she and her family struggled upon landing in Canada. Her story is no different from the stories of landed immigrants of late.
The Philippine Reporter spoke with Chow in her Trinity-Spadina home about her platform and what she can offer the Filipino community. Here are excerpts:

TPR: What are your priorities if elected Mayor of Toronto?

CHOW: To move people faster right now, to create jobs for young people, and to take better care of our children.

On moving people faster, two key things. Number one, a comprehensive public transit plan; a transit plan that is designed by experts, and a plan that uses all modes of transport — buses, street cars, light rail and subways. All four and GO trains — electrification of GO trains. Thirdly, a plan that can move people faster now, immediately like the buses. And fourthly, a plan that is totally costed out so that it is realistic. You can actually get it done. If not, it’s a bit too late. It won’t go anywhere.
…And the operating cost, we will do all that through property taxes, and through partnership with the federal and provincial government. GO trains is provincial, electrification.

Olivia Chow (5th from left), at the Halo-Halo Festival, Aug. 17, 2014. (PHOTO: ARIEL RAMOS)

TPR: Will your transit plan entail more taxes?

CHOW: No, it’s funded. John Tory’s plan costs a lot of money. Mine doesn’t. Buses are not expensive. On top of it, I am taxing people that can pay more. Those people that are buying houses that are worth more than $2 million have to pay one percent more. So I am taxing those that have a lot of money so they can pay more, so we can use the money to pay transit, to build transit. John Tory doesn’t have a plan.

TPR: But this additional one per cent, wouldn’t people be mad at you? People who do not have cars may be happy.

CHOW: People can’t be mad at me because they can afford it. If they are paying $2 million for a house, they have a bit of money… If you spend a few million bucks on a house, paying one per cent point more, you can afford that. And that will generate at least $20 million. That will generate a lot of money.
My plan is faster, cheaper, better.

TPR: Given that there will be not much funds needed for transit, will that help you with your other plans for the city?

CHOW: Absolutely. That will give me more funding in jobs and for food for children.

A lot of children go to school hungry – 29 per cent. So I want to feed 36,000 children. I want to eventually have food in schools at every school — a food program in every school, good meal, good food. Parents will pay what they can. Those who can pay more will pay more; those who can’t pay a whole lot, they can pay a little. But it (food program) is universal, not rich kid, poor kid. Any program for kids should be universal. That is my plan.

Mr. Tory has no such plan. I have a plan for after school programs for kids. Mr. Tory has no such program. Because (with) after school programs, they grow up smart and strong, learn the skills, stay out of trouble. And we can hire young people to create more jobs for young people.

And the last piece is jobs for young people. A lot of young people can’t find a job. One out of five can’t find a job. That is a crisis. It is very discouraging, especially, the young person wants to start a family, start their life, be independent. If you can’t find a job, how can’t you pay it (students debt) off? You can’t even pay the interest.

So a good job is really important. I want to create 5,000 jobs for young people using the city’s capital investments to work for us. So big companies that are signing on to do projects with the city, we want them to sign an agreement that if they want a contract …, they have to hire young people. If they need to have a bit of an apprenticeship program, they need  to train them. Because companies, if you don’t push them to do training programs, they won’t train. But that’s not good enough. They will provide training, they will provide good paying jobs, they will renew our workforce, and will be good for the economy and good for young people.

TPR: What about job opportunities for immigrants, including the young people who are having a difficult time looking for jobs?

CHOW: We will help new migrants start their business. The new immigrant has the know-how. They have business contacts in Manila. They know how businesses are done there. If the company here wants to do trading with businesses in Manila, helping the new entrepreneur to set up a business here, they will also learn the contacts on how to do trade with the other country. So it is not just good for the new immigrants, it is also good for the small businesses.